The start of the first-class cricket season in England and Wales. Tradition meets 2022
Thursday 7th April sees the start of the first-class cricket season in England and Wales.
Unless you are enthusiast you may not have noticed (you might struggle not to notice the start of the football season even if you are not a fan).
Spectators are back(there won’t all that many) but in 2022 the games are live streamed with BBC Test Match Special ball by ball commentary. Hopefully this will spark interest.
The season is starting on time this year after the COVID hit season of 2020 and in due course the various limited overs competitions will also appear. No change in the structure of the first class game is happening in 2022 but 2023 may look different, possibly not in a good way.
Coverage and publicity for the start of the season will be limited no doubt. The current focus in cricket is the Indian Premier League, the biggest draw in world cricket
There is I must admit a wider angle now.
In times past the start of the domestic season was a chance to follow some live cricket for the first time in months, the England winter overseas tours having been completed some-time since. In 2022 you can watch and often enjoy cricket games in a range of formats day and night on Sky and BT Sport from all around the world.
The County game is the basis for cricket. Of course not enough watch it and for most clubs finance is a real issue but these have both been true for a long time. Reducing the number of Counties (a media obsession) won’t broaden its appeal. Really tackling racism in the game and significantly improving the path into the County game from the structures that exist at the grassroots might. In short fashioning a cricket fit for 2022, fit that is for those who enjoy playing and watching cricket, not for those who see it is another vehicle for profit making for their own ends.
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